1. Introducing Control in an Open Online Course
Richard Mitchell
Computer Science
University of Reading
p1 RJM 18/08/2016
Introducing Control in a MOOC
© Prof Richard Mitchell 2016

2. Abstract
Begin Robotics - successful open online course – on FutureLearn - around 30,000 participants over four runs. Aimed at introducing robotics, cybernetics, artificial intelligence, control and haptics to Key Stage 3 pupils, it has been taken by other groups from around the world. Paper discusses course, introduction of Control, its use at undergraduate level, and positive reaction.
p2 RJM 18/08/2016
Introducing Control in a MOOC
© Prof Richard Mitchell 2016

3. Background
Robotics has been successfully used for outreach / recruitment – talks + demonstrations / competitions
Begin Programming – first Reading MOOC* – now had around 200,000 enrolments –attracted many students
So we developed Begin Robotics
Follows relevant MOOC pedagogy (see paper)
Aims – introduce robotics – with hands on experience
Level – Key Stage 3 / 4, adaptable to undergraduate
Discusses some research concepts
Unlike other courses, does not focus on one robot
*Massive Open Online Course
p3 RJM 18/08/2016
Introducing Control in a MOOC
© Prof Richard Mitchell 2016

4. Course Structure and Features
Four week course Week 1: Intro course, feedback, robots, exercises Week 2: Sensors, actuators, brain and power Week 3: Feedback for control and interaction Week 4: Feedback for learning Comprises, short videos, articles to read/discuss, exercises, MCQs Features Interactive web pages illustrating videos/articles and for exercises Each week has ‘Meet the reading robots’ feature
p4 RJM 18/08/2016
Introducing Control in a MOOC
© Prof Richard Mitchell 2016

5. Robots at Reading used in Course
ERIC
(early version)
Baxter
Rover
Used in Part 2 project
Haptic device
Scampi
Robot - ant wars
p5 RJM 18/08/2016
Introducing Control in a MOOC
© Prof Richard Mitchell 2016

6. Interactive Web Pages
Outreach activities – important students do something
For online course, web pages seem way forward
Javascript pages utilised – no software to download
Embedded within FutureLearn platform, but available at
/Simulation2/BeginRoboticsSimulationindex2.pdf
Two uses
Exercises for students to do
Illustration of key features
p6 RJM 18/08/2016
Introducing Control in a MOOC
© Prof Richard Mitchell 2016

7. Examples
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Introducing Control in a MOOC
© Prof Richard Mitchell 2016

8. Explaining PWM
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Introducing Control in a MOOC
© Prof Richard Mitchell 2016

9. Page developed after User Comment
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Introducing Control in a MOOC
© Prof Richard Mitchell 2016

10. Illustrating the Need for Control
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Introducing Control in a MOOC
© Prof Richard Mitchell 2016

11. Velocity Feedback – ERIC’s ‘Rock’
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Introducing Control in a MOOC
© Prof Richard Mitchell 2016

12. Exercise Pages First Exp’t L and R motor speeds Second ..
Includes Navigate Track
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Introducing Control in a MOOC
© Prof Richard Mitchell 2016

13. Week 2 Using sensors move avoiding walls / follow line Next
steer towards lights
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Introducing Control in a MOOC
© Prof Richard Mitchell 2016

14. Week 4 – This and Nav. Maze Introducing Control in a MOOC
p14 RJM 18/08/2016
Introducing Control in a MOOC
© Prof Richard Mitchell 2016

15. Use of Material for Undergraduates
First year course on cybernetics Web pages used to illustrate need for control Damping of second order systems Formed Part 1 Lab experiments First year course on robotics Third run timed to coincide with colleague’s lectures Students invited to do MOOC also Fifth run will coincide when I teach robotics next year Plan to link assessments with those on the MOOC Will in effect ‘flip’ the lectures
p15 RJM 18/08/2016
Introducing Control in a MOOC
© Prof Richard Mitchell 2016

16. Very Positive Reaction
Teachers found simulations very useful and wanted to use at schools … hence pages available .. appreciated. “Thank you for a truly excellent course that exceeded my expectations. By removing all the barriers to education that are still present in many online courses you allowed one to relax and concentrate on the learning. It made for a much more pleasant learning environment that encouraged exploration and experimentation. The use of simulations put this course head and shoulders above the competition.”
p16 RJM 18/08/2016
Introducing Control in a MOOC
© Prof Richard Mitchell 2016

17. On Control
“Was a good idea to introduce a feedback control to reduce the oscillations of ERIC, this issue had already detected previously, simulations helped me to better visualize and control reactionary already applied.” “Great explanation, I think there are many similarities between the mass-spring model and the system shown, it is a clear example of a mathematical model which can represent a system.”
p17 RJM 18/08/2016
Introducing Control in a MOOC
© Prof Richard Mitchell 2016

18. From FutureLearn
“The simulations Dr. Mitchell produced for the course brought the topic to life for learners and enabled them to understand & experience robotic principles in a far more engaging way than would otherwise be possible. Encouraging learners to experiment and discuss with others is core to FutureLearn's approach to learning, and it was great to see a course adopt this so thoroughly and to such success. Most importantly, it let students have fun learning. This enjoyment was evident in hundreds of comments across the different exercises”.
p18 RJM 18/08/2016
Introducing Control in a MOOC
© Prof Richard Mitchell 2016

19. Conclusion
Course has successfully introduced robotics and control to a large audience Interactive Web Pages have been particularly popular Course has attracted students to Reading Some of the pages and exercise have been used for undergraduate laboratory experiments One run coincided with Part 1 Robots course Next run will coincide with first time I teach robotics So analysis planned on impact of this.
p19 RJM 18/08/2016
Introducing Control in a MOOC
© Prof Richard Mitchell 2016